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Sunday, February 22, 2026

Rilakkuma - McDonald’s Japan (2019)



In Japan in 2019, Rilakkuma — the hugely popular San-X character known for its relaxed teddy bear aesthetic — was featured as a limited-time toy series in McDonald’s Japan’s Happy Set menus, running from April 12, 2019 for about five weeks. This special promotion included a total of nine unique items (eight standard toys plus a “secret” one) that showcased Rilakkuma and friends in themed designs such as “Sports Rilakkuma” and “Honey Forest Rilakkuma,” with the character Chairoikoguma appearing for the first time in this Happy Set lineup. These figures were distributed randomly with Happy Meals and often came with small stationery items like pen toppers, photo frames, or stamps, making them especially popular with children and collectors alike.

Astroboy and Uran - Tezuka Productions (February 8, 2023)



On February 8, 2023, Astro Boy and Uran—two iconic robot siblings created by manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka—were highlighted by Tezuka Productions in a special feature celebrating their enduring legacy in Japanese pop culture. Originally debuting in Tezuka’s classic manga series Tetsuwan Atom, Astro Boy is portrayed as a powerful android with a strong moral compass who fights for peace between humans and robots, while Uran (also known as Astro Girl) is his spirited younger sister with heightened emotional sensitivity and the ability to detect danger. The February 2023 spotlight underscored how these beloved characters continue to resonate with modern audiences through merchandise, digital content, and commemorative promotions, reaffirming their lasting influence on global animation and storytelling.

Ultraman Tsuburaya Productions -Japan McDonald’s (2021)



In late 2021, Tsuburaya Productions’ iconic superhero Ultraman teamed up with McDonald’s Japan for a special promotional collaboration tied to the franchise’s 55th anniversary and broader Ultraman campaigns. As part of this limited-time event, McDonald’s Happy Set (“ハッピーセット”) featured Ultraman-themed toys and play experiences designed to entertain and educate children with alphabet and word games, spatial puzzles, and character pieces when purchased at restaurants nationwide from November 19, 2021 for about four weeks. This campaign also included a “TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION” tie-in, where codes from the Happy Set offered access to exclusive digital content and prizes, blending fast-food promotion with Ultraman fandom and educational play.

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Coffee Smile by Gardenia Cafe Latte instant Coffee Mix - Gardenia Trading and Distribution Corp. (February 2026)



The Coffee Smile By Gardenia Cafe Latte Instant Coffee Mix by Gardenia Trading and Distribution Corp. is an officially registered low-risk food product in the Philippines under the Coffee Smile brand, with FDA verification showing its Cafe Latte instant coffee mix formulation (registration valid through 2028). Launched as part of Gardenia’s diversification beyond bakery staples, Coffee Smile aims to offer everyday consumers an affordable, café-style experience at home, with smooth blends like the classic Café Latte and richer Mocha Latte variants that pair well with breads, pastries, or snacks any time of day. Designed for convenience, the instant mix comes in individual sachets that dissolve easily in hot or cold water or milk, bringing aromatic coffee flavor without the need for grinding or brewing equipment — making it a quick pick-me-up for busy routines.

Coffee Smile by Gardenie Mocha Latte Instant Coffee Mix - Gardenia Trading and Distribution Corp. (February 2026)



Coffee Smile Mocha & Cafe Latte Instant Coffee Mix by Gardenia Trading and Distribution Corp. is part of the company’s Coffee Smile line, a range of instant coffee mixes introduced as a complement to its baked goods and other food products. Launched as an affordable, ready-to-mix beverage brand, Coffee Smile offers café-style flavors like mocha latte and café latte, designed to bring a smooth, aromatic coffee experience that can be enjoyed hot or iced at home or on the go. Gardenia’s move into coffee mixes reflects a strategic expansion beyond bread and bakery products, aiming to pair easily with daily meals and snacks while delivering pleasant everyday enjoyment. The instant mixes are registered as a low-risk food product with the Philippine FDA and are typically sold in multi-pack sachets for convenience.

Chocolate Cup - Coco (February 2026)



 

Best Fruit Gummy - V8 Optimal - Hansland Consumer Goods Trading


 

M.Y. San FITA Crackers - Monde M.Y. San Corporation (February 2026)



M.Y. San Fita Crackers, a popular cracker product from Monde M.Y. San Corporation as of February 2026: M.Y. San Fita Crackers are a classic Filipino snack made by Monde M.Y. San Corporation, a long-standing Philippine cracker and biscuit manufacturer known for iconic brands like SkyFlakes and Fita with a history dating back to 1935. Fita crackers are thin, crispy crackers with a distinctive sweet-and-slightly-salty flavor that many people enjoy on their own as a snack or paired with coffee or tea, and they’re sold in various pack sizes including singles, multi-packs, and larger tubs. The product’s enduring popularity in the Philippines reflects its nostalgic appeal and consistent quality, rooted in the company’s focus on select ingredients and traditional baking processes that have kept Fita a favorite across generations.

Best Fruit Gummy - V8 Optimal - Hansland Consumer Goods Trading (February 2026)


 

Cham Yummy Belt Rainbow Sub Strawberry Flavor - Candy Dynasty Products Phil. Corp. (February 2026)



Sourbelt Rainbow and Strawberry Belt — often similar in style and flavor to products like Cham’s — is part of a popular category of chewy rainbow belt candies with a strawberry fruit taste that’s tangy-sweet and brightly colored, appealing especially to kids and teens as a fun treat or party snack. In the Philippines, a product called Yummy Belt Rainbow Sub under the CHAM brand has been registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a low-risk food product (a type of gummy candy), suggesting it meets local regulatory standards for confectionery, though specific flavor variants like strawberry may vary by batch or distributor.

These belt candies are typically long, flexible gummy strips coated lightly with sugar or sour crystals, offering a mix of sweetness and mild tartness that comes through in the strawberry version; they’re enjoyed straight from the package and are commonly seen in bulk snack packs in local markets and online shops across the Philippines. 

Crayon ShinChan Happy Meal Toys- McDonald’s Philippines (February 2026)


 

Don Angelo Spaghetti Pasta - O Save (February 2026)


 

Amazing Grace Comic Strip (February 12, 2026)


 


Year of the Ox x Birdie - McDonald’s Philippines (February 2026)










Year of the Monkey x Hamburglar - McDonald’s Philippines (February 2026)


 



Year of the Rooster x Hamburglar- McDonald’s Philippines (February 2026)


 


In February 2026, McDonald’s Philippines marked the Year of the Rooster (specifically the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac) with a festive Lunar New Year celebration that blended local culture and playful brand fun by releasing a set of 12 zodiac-inspired collectibles featuring classic McDonald’s characters like Hamburglar, Grimace, and Birdie reimagined as zodiac animals with interchangeable shells and colored gems, including a special golden horse to commemorate the year; customers could get these keepsakes as part of a limited‑time “lucky combo” by adding a promo amount to any meal to also enjoy the Golden McFloat, all aimed at celebrating luck, food, and joy during the holiday season across McDo stores and app‑exclusive offers.

Friday, February 20, 2026

Year of the Goat x Hamburglar - McDonald’s Philippines (February 2026)


 


In February 2026, McDonald’s Philippines celebrated the Lunar New Year with a special Chinese zodiac-themed collectible drop that included iconic McDonald’s characters like Hamburglar, Grimace, and Birdie reimagined in adorable zodiac animal forms—each encased in a detachable shell with a colored gem and available for a limited time alongside the new Golden McFloat drink. This festive promotion was part of the brand’s effort to inject cultural fun and seasonal excitement into the McDonald’s experience in the Philippines, encouraging customers to collect all 12 zodiac-inspired figures while enjoying themed menu items during the Year of the Goat celebration.

Year of the Tiger x Grimace - McDonald’s Philippines (February 2026)


 



In February 2026, McDonald’s Philippines joined the Lunar New Year celebration and the Year of the Tiger festivities with a special promotional push that tapped into Chinese zodiac themes and added playful collectible appeal for customers. As part of its Lucky Combo and “12 Zodiac” collectible lineup, McDonald’s released a series of limited-edition toys and memorabilia featuring beloved McDonaldland characters—including Grimace styled as the Tiger zodiac—available with select meals for a limited time, blending festive cultural motifs with its iconic mascots to engage fans and diners during the holiday period.

Pencil Topper


A pencil topper is a small decorative or functional object placed on the eraser end of a pencil, often made of rubber, plastic, or silicone, and designed in fun shapes such as animals, cartoon characters, or seasonal symbols. While pencils themselves date back to the 16th century following the discovery of graphite in England, novelty pencil toppers became especially popular in the mid-20th century as mass-produced school supplies expanded and manufacturers looked for creative ways to make writing tools more appealing to children. Companies began producing character-themed toppers tied to popular movies, television shows, and holidays, turning simple stationery into collectible items. Beyond decoration, some pencil toppers also function as erasers, combining practicality with playfulness, and they remain a common feature in classrooms and gift shops worldwide.

Lunch Box Vintage


The tin lunch box, a staple in school and work life for over a century, originated in the late 19th century as a durable and portable solution for carrying meals. Early versions were made from tin-plated steel, which was lightweight, rust-resistant, and easily decorated with colorful lithographs featuring popular characters, advertisements, or scenic designs. They gained widespread popularity in the United States and Europe as industrialization increased the need for workers and children to bring meals from home. Over time, the tin lunch box became a cultural icon, especially with the mid-20th-century trend of featuring television and comic book characters, transforming it from a practical container into a collectible item that blended functionality with nostalgia.

Shakey's Pizza Box


Shakey’s Pizza, founded in 1954 in Sacramento, California, by Sherwood “Shakey” Johnson and Ed Plummer, is one of the earliest American pizza chains to combine pizza with a family-friendly dining experience and live music. Shakey, a former musician, earned his nickname from his nervous energy and love for performing, which inspired the chain’s signature casual and lively atmosphere. The first Shakey’s menu featured thin-crust pizzas, fried chicken, and beer, emphasizing a social, communal dining style rather than just quick takeout. The brand quickly expanded across the United States and eventually internationally, becoming especially popular in the Philippines, where it has grown into a well-loved chain known for its family-oriented restaurants and distinctive pizza flavors. Today, Shakey’s remains a pioneer in creating the concept of pizza parlors as a place for fun, music, and community dining.

Burger King Kids Meal


The Burger King Kids Meal is a specially packaged meal designed for children, typically including a smaller portion of a Burger King sandwich, fries, a drink, and a toy. Introduced in 1990, it was Burger King’s response to the growing popularity of children-focused meal promotions pioneered by competitors like McDonald’s Happy Meal. The concept aimed not only to provide child-friendly portions but also to create a fun dining experience with collectible toys, often tied to popular movies, cartoons, or seasonal themes. Over the years, the Burger King Kids Meal has evolved with healthier options, like apple slices and low-fat milk, reflecting changing nutritional awareness, while continuing to combine food and entertainment in a way that appeals to young diners and builds brand loyalty from an early age.

Year of the Pig x Birdie - McDonald's Philippines (February 2026)


 


In February 2026, McDonald's Philippines marked the Year of the Pig and broader Lunar New Year festivities with a lively promotional campaign that blended cultural celebration with collectible fun. As part of this seasonal effort, McDonald’s launched a set of Chinese zodiac–inspired collectibles featuring popular McDonald’s characters such as Birdie reimagined as zodiac animals, each encased in a cute detachable shell with colored gems, which fans could collect for a limited time when added to meals alongside the new seasonal Golden McFloat drink. This promotion aimed to honour the festive spirit of the Year of the Fire Horse and offer customers a culturally themed, playful experience through food, drink and keepsake figurines.

Amazing Grace Comic Strip (February 16, 2026)


 


The Amazing Grace comic strip published on February 16, 2026 in the Manila Bulletin featured the title character in a lighthearted exchange about the famously long and whimsical word “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” a term popularized by the song in the Disney film Mary Poppins. In the strip, someone asks Amazing Grace what the word means, prompting her to admit that while she is unsure of its definition, it sounds like the name of a delicious dessert she would happily order. True to the comic’s charm, Grace’s innocent and imaginative response turns a vocabulary question into a humorous moment, highlighting her playful personality and the strip’s knack for blending everyday situations with clever wordplay.

Year of the Rabbit x Grimace - McDonald’s Philippines (February 2026)


 


In February 2026, McDonald’s Philippines rolled out a special Year of the Rabbit–themed Zodiac collectibles promotion tied to the Lunar New Year, featuring its beloved characters like Grimace reimagined as animals from the Chinese zodiac—including a Grimace x Rabbit design—as part of a broader 12-Zodiac toy collection available with meals. To join the fun, customers can add ₱168 to any meal to receive one of the non-blind collectible figures along with a limited-edition Golden McFloat drink, blending festive cultural celebration with collectible merchandise that appeals to fans and families nationwide during the holiday period.